COUNCILLORS from Blackburn and Darwen are calling on the Government to lower the amount less well-off people have to pay in council tax.

The appeal is in response Government consultations on a recently published blueprint setting out proposals for the modernisation of local government.

In a letter to the government, the council points out that 65 per cent of properties in the borough are Band A - the lowest band - and claims there should be a greater differential between the highest and lowest charges.

Deputy council leader and finance committee chairman Gail Barton said Band A should be cut.

She added: "We believe this would do much to increase the perceived fairness of the council tax system."

Coun Barton reiterated that the council is firmly opposed to 'capping' where the government imposes a ceiling on the amount a local authority can spend on services. She said: "There is widespread belief that low turnouts at local elections are linked to the fact that central government controls the purse strings.

"More local control of spending would mean greater accountability and this would help local people to judge more accurately the performance of their council."

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